Rubber spring supported playground apparatus

ABSTRACT

Playground apparatus including at least one occupant-supporting seat wherein the seat is connected to a stationary support member through a resilient elastomer member such that vertical and horizontal movement of the seat is permitted due to the resilient characteristic of the elastomer. In the disclosed form of the invention a plurality of seats are mounted upon elongated arms radially disposed to a support member, and the arms are rigidly connected to an annular collar circumscribing the support member wherein a plurality of elastomer elements are interposed between the support member and collar.

United States Patent Ewers July 11, 1972 [54] RUBBER SPRING SUPPORTED PLAYGROUND APPARATUS [72] Inventor: Ronald L. Ewers, l-lillsdale, Mich.

[73] Assignee: Game Time, Inc., Litchfield, Mich.

[221 Filed: Sept. 21, 1970 21 Appl. No.: 74,050

[52] U.S. Cl ..272/54, 272/52, 272/55 51 lnt.Cl ..A63gl7/00 5s FieldofSearch ..272/52, 525,511,512, 54,

272/55, 56, 57 D, 50, 60; 267/57.1 R, 57.1 A, 153, 154; 34/5, 6.4, 6.4 A, 6.4 B, 6.4 C

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,204,953 9/1965 Ahrens ..272/52 2,688,483 9/1954 Mugler ..272/52 X 3,514,103 5/1970 Lieberman Worrnser et a1, ..272/54 2/1941 Merrill ..267/153 X Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Arnold W. Kramer Attorney-Beaman & Beaman [5 7] ABSTRACT Playground apparatus including at least one occupant-supporting seat wherein the seat is connected to a stationary support member through a resilient elastomer member such that vertical and horizontal movement of the seat is permitted due to the resilient characteristic of the elastomer. 1n the disclosed form of the invention a plurality of seats are mounted upon elongated arms radially disposed to a support member, and the arms are rigidly connected to an annular collar circumscribing the support member wherein a plurality of elastomer elements are interposed between the support member and collar.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention pertains to playground apparatus utilizing an occupant-supporting seat wherein movement of the seat is accomplished through spring-like elements formed of a resilient elastomer.

As children enjoy playground apparatus wherein the occupant is moved, swings, teeter-totters, slides, roundabouts, etc., have remained popular playground devices throughout the years. In the improvement and development of playground equipment items have been manufactured which improve many of the conventional standard apparatus, particularly with respect to safety. For instance, swing seats formed of rubber, enclosed slide platforms and safety steps, and modifications in teeter-totter devices have reduced the likelihood of injury, and many of the more recently offered playground devices produce improved occupant movement, as well as decrease the likelihood of accidental injury.

Playground apparatus upon which a number of children may simultaneously play is particularly popular due to the socializing involved, and a number of devices which may be generally classified as teeter-totters" have been offered which are capable of handling several children at a time. Reference is particularly made to the assignees device shown in US. Pat. No. 3,292,924 which permits a plurality of children to be mounted upon a spring supported teeter-totter device which produces an irregular movement under the influence of the occupants shifting their weight.

While spring supported devices such as that disclosed in the above identified patent are safer than conventional teeter-totters and similar devices, the possibility of spring breakage is present, and the operation of the apparatus creates a noise as the springs are alternately extended and compressed. Furthermore, in compression spring supported devices there is the possibility of the children pinching fingers or toes between the coils of the springs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is directed to playground apparatus which supports an occupant, or occupants, on elastomer springs or blocks wherein an agreeable movement of the occupant is produced with improved safety features.

. In the practice of the invention the occupant seat is supported upon a fixed support member through at least one elastomer spring element, and preferably, a plurality of spring elements are used, and a plurality of seats are interconnected and mounted upon the elements. Playground apparatus in accord with the invention has the advantage of reducing the danger and maintenance attendant with compression spring breakage, and also eliminates the possibility of the pinching of fingers or toes between spring coils. Additionally, apparatus constructed in accord with the invention is quiet in operation, while producing a pleasing motion and action.

In the disclosed embodiment four occupant seats are mounted upon a common support member which permits socializing between the occupants, and permits the occupants to move in unison to produce desired movement effects.

A further object of the invention is to provide an elastomer supported playground apparatus which is economical to manufacture and assemble, and does not require complicated installation procedures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The aforementioned objects and advantages of the invention will be appreciated from the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a perspective view of playground apparatus constructed in accord with the invention, the concrete support foundation being illustrated in dotted lines,

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view shown on an enlarged scale of the support member and components associated therewith, and

FIG. 3 is a plan, sectional view of the support member with the upper cover removed for purposes of illustration.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT While the basic concept of the invention may be practiced in a wide variety of embodiments, one commercial form of the invention is illustrated in the drawings wherein playground apparatus capable of simultaneously supporting four children is illustrated. Embodiments incorporating the inventive concept may be constructed to handle from a single occupant to numbers greater than four.

The disclosed playground apparatus is mounted upon a concrete foundation or block 10 which is buried in the ground, as is well known in the art. The support member for the apparatus is generally indicated at 12 and is bolted upon the concrete block. The support member includes a base plate 14 having holes 16 defined therein for receiving bolts for firmly fastening the plate to the block 10. Vertically rising from the base plate 14, and a welded thereto, is a square pedestal 18 having a planar top edge, and defining four sides 20. Each of the sides 20 is provided with four holes 22 through which connecting bolts for the elastomer elements extend, as will be later described.

The elastomer spring elements 24 each consist of three components. Each element includes an inner plate 26 having holes therein which are aligned with the pedestal holes 22 for attachment to the pedestal sides 20 by means of bolts 28 and nuts 30, FIG. 2. Bonded to the outer surface of the plates 26 is a rubber pad or block 32, and an outer steel plate 34 is bonded to the opposite side of the rubber block with respect to the plate 26. Thus, in effect, the elements 24 consist of an elastomer block sandwiched between a pair of metal plates bonded thereto wherein no direct metal-to-metal interconnection exists between the plates 26 and 34. A plurality of holes 36 are defined in the outer plates 34 to permit the collar plates to be attached thereto as will be described.

The occupant seats may be in the form of animals, as illustrated in FIG. 1, or may merely constitute simple seat devices of identical structure. The seats 38 are each supported upon an elongated arm 40, which may be in the form of rectangular tubing, which is radially disposed with respect to the support pedestal 18. The outer ends of the arms support the seat structure, while the inner end of each of the arms is provided with a plate collar segment 42 welded thereto. The configuration of each of the collar plates 42 will be appreciated from FIGS. 2 and 3, and include a central base portion 44 having depending angularly disposed edge flanges 46. Holes 48 are defined in the portions 44 for alignment with the holes 36 of the elastomer element plates 34 whereby bolts 50 affix the element plates to the arm plates 42.

Holes 52 are defined in the flanges 46 for receiving bolts 54 wherein, when the plates 42 are assembled by means of the bolts 54, FIG. 3, interconnecting overlapping flanges whereby the plates together define an octogonal collar generally indicated at 56. Due to the interconnection of the plates 42 by the bolts 54 the collar will be of a substantially rigid nature thereby interconnecting each of the arms 40.

From the aforedescription it will be appreciated that the arms 40, seats 38 and collar 56 are connected and supported upon the support member 12 solely through the elastomer elements 24. This type of resilient support of the seats permits the seat occupants to produce both vertical and horizontal movement of the seats by a shifting of the weight, and occupants mounted upon opposite sides of the support member may make the device function as a teeter-totter, if desired. The random motion of the seats permitted by the resilient elastomer elements is pleasing and nonabrupt, and the apparatus is free of the likelihood of pinching, and the bonding between the blocks 32 and their associated plates is such that spring failures have been substantially eliminated.

The support member 12, and collar 54 are preferably enclosed at the upper portion by a cover 58, which may be bolted to the collar.

It will therefore be appreciated that the invention is directed to a safe, quiet playground apparatus of simplified nature which produces a pleasing action, and may be easily maintained. The rubber blocks 32 are not exteriorly visible, and are so located as to be reasonably free of vandalism.

It is appreciated that various modifications to the inventive concept may be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention,

1 claim 1. Playground apparatus comprising, in combination, a vertically disposed support member having a plurality of vertically extending sides, a plurality of resilient elastomer elements mounted on said support member, said elements each being mounted on separate sides thereof, an elongated arm mounted on each element and a seat defined upon each arm remotely spaced from said support member, said arms being radially related to said support member, and substantially rigid connection means interconnecting said arms whereby all said arms resiliently move together at all times.

2. Playground apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said connection means comprises an annular collar circumscribing said support member, said arms being connected to said collar,

3. Playground apparatus comprising, in combination, a vertically disposed support member having at least one vertically extending flat side, an elongated arm having an outer end and an inner end, a seat defined on said arm outer end, an arm plate having a flat portion affixed to said arm inner end, an elastomer spring element comprising an inner fiat plate, an outer fiat plate and an elastomer block bonded to and intermediate said inner and outer plates, and removable bolt means attaching said inner plate to said support member side and attaching said outer plate to said arm plate flat portion whereby said seat is resiliently mounted upon said support member.

4. ln playground apparatus as in claim 3 wherein a plurality of vertically extending sides are defined on said support member, a plurality of said elongated arms each having a seat defined on its outer end and an arm plate affixed to its inner end, and a plurality of said elastomer spring elements, a spring element inner plate being bolted to each of said support member sides and the outer plate thereof being bolted to an arm plate whereby said plurality of arms are resiliently mounted on said support member.

5. In playground apparatus as in claim 4, a flange defined upon each of said arm plates extending toward and overlapping a flange defined upon the adjacent arm plate, and means rigidly interconnecting overlapping arm plates whereby said arms resiliently move together at all times. 

1. Playground apparatus comprising, in combination, a vertically disposed support member having a plurality of vertically extending sides, a plurality of resilient elastomer elements mounted on said support member, said elements each being mounted on separate sides thereof, an elongated arm mounted on each element and a seat defined upon each arm remotely spaced from said support member, said arms being radially related to said support member, and substantially rigid connection means interconnecting said arms whereby all said arms resiliently move together at all times.
 2. Playground apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said connection means comprises an annular collar circumscribing said support member, said arms being connected to said collar.
 3. Playground apparatus comprising, in combination, a vertically disposed support member having at least one vertically extending flat side, an elongated arm having an outer end and an inner end, a seat defined on said arm outer end, an arm plate having a flat portion affixed to said arm inner end, an elastomer spring element comprising an inner flat plate, an outer flat plate and an elastomer block bonded to and intermediate said inner and outer plates, and removable bolt means attaching said inner plate to said support member side and attaching said outer plate to said arm plate flat portion whereby said seat is resiliently mounted upon said support member.
 4. In playground apparatus as in claim 3 wherein a plurality of vertically extending sides are defined on said support member, a plurality of said elongated arms each having a seat defined on its outer end and an arm plate affixed to its inner end, and a plurality of said elastomer spring elements, a spring element inner plate being bolted to each of said support member sides and the outer plate thereof being bolted to an arm plate whereby said plurality of arms are resiliently mounted on said support member.
 5. In playground apparatus as in claim 4, a flange defined upon each of said arm plates extending toward and overlapping a flange defined upon the adjacent arm plate, and means rigidly interconnecting overlapping arm plates whereby said arms resiliently move together at all times. 